What happened
On Friday, April 2, 1982, two pilots departed from Locarno-Magadino aerodrome in Switzerland with the intention of flying a VFR route to Landshut, Germany. The aircraft involved was a Cessna 172 registered as D-EHOB. After an initial aborted attempt due to deteriorating weather conditions earlier that morning, the crew took off again at 0942 local time.
The flight plan indicated a route over Tiefencastel and Klosters. Shortly after takeoff, visibility was good with calm winds. The aircraft passed over Lake Lugano and climbed toward Bellinzona, where radio contact was briefly maintained on the aerodrome frequency at 6,000 feet. The pilots intended to cross the San Bernardino Pass (P. del S. Bernardino). However, communication ceased shortly after this point.
The aircraft subsequently collided with a rocky outcrop on the western slope of the Cima de Barna mountain in the canton of Graubünden. The impact occurred at an altitude of approximately 2,810 meters. The force of the collision separated the engine and propeller from the airframe and triggered a snow avalanche that carried wreckage down the valley side. Both pilots were killed instantly.
The investigation
The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (then known as the Inter-Cantonal Commission for Aircraft Accident Investigation) conducted an inquiry into the accident. The search for the aircraft was initially unsuccessful, with parts of the wreck eventually found weeks later by a gamekeeper on a snow cone in the Mesocco area.
Investigations revealed that the pilots had prepared extensively for the flight, receiving detailed meteorological briefings. However, the weather conditions along the planned route were marginal. While the valleys on the northern side of the Alps were clear, the passes were obscured by clouds from the south. The pilots, who lacked specific mountain flying experience, struggled to maintain visual reference as they entered broken cloud layers in the narrowing alpine valleys.
Forensic analysis of the wreckage showed no evidence of mechanical failure or technical defect prior to impact. The engine was found to be producing power at the moment of collision, indicated by propeller deformation and scuff marks on the rock face. Medical examinations confirmed that neither pilot had been impaired by alcohol or pre-existing medical conditions.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary cause of the accident was a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) resulting from a collision with a rock face in deteriorating weather. Contributing factors included:
- Inadequate Mountain Flying Experience: Neither pilot had received specific training for mountain operations, which limited their ability to navigate safely in complex alpine terrain.
- Poor Flight Tactics: The crew failed to recognize the rapid deterioration of weather conditions and the loss of visual reference. They attempted to continue VFR flight into cloud layers where visibility was insufficient to avoid obstacles.
- Loss of Situational Awareness: As the aircraft entered broken clouds in a narrow valley, the pilots lost geographical orientation. The decision to turn back was made too late to avoid the mountain slope.
The aircraft was not equipped with an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), which delayed the discovery of the crash site.
Safety action
This report highlights the critical importance of adequate training for mountain flying and the necessity of strict adherence to weather minimums. The lack of specific mountain flying experience for pilots operating in alpine regions remains a significant safety concern. Additionally, the absence of an ELT on the aircraft contributed to the delay in locating the wreckage, underscoring the value of such equipment in remote terrain.